Comments on: Microsoft Enlisting Clueless States Attorneys General To Shake Down Foreign Companies For 'Piracy'https://www.techdirt.com/
Easily digestible tech news....https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c518
Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:02:39 PSThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c518Incomplete recitals of facts detract from the persuasive force articles here could otherwise have.]]>Catch on...https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c498
Thu, 7 Aug 2014 11:34:04 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c498Re: Re: Re: Re: So..https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c475
Wed, 19 Mar 2014 12:25:31 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c475Fun fact: "computer" used to be a job title, not the name of a kind of machine.]]>Re: Re: Re: So..https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c457
Wed, 19 Mar 2014 10:33:37 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c457Re:https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c439
Wed, 19 Mar 2014 09:51:28 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c439Re: Re: Use Linuxhttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c420
Wed, 19 Mar 2014 09:44:10 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c420Technically, what the BSA demands is not that you produce Windows licenses (except for those machines that run Windows), but that you can document that all your software is legal. Keeping meticulous records of what you installed, where you got it, and on what machines, will shield you totally (in the US).

But the real thing the BSA accomplishes is not really about suing companies -- that's just icing on the cake for them. The real harm is during the investigation. They come in with cops and shut you down completely while they conduct their "investigation". Even when they find nothing, you've been seriously damaged through the inability to conduct business. That's why many business simply pay the extortionists their fee.]]>Re:https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c418
Wed, 19 Mar 2014 09:22:09 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c418Re: Re: Re: So..https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c402
Wed, 19 Mar 2014 05:41:05 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c402Re:https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c382
Wed, 19 Mar 2014 00:37:42 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c382Re: Re: Use Linuxhttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c379
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 20:39:42 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c379Been in the thick of it for 15 years. Using, coding, and administrating it.]]>"Microsoft Enlisting Clueless States Attorneys General To Shake Down Foreign Companies For 'Piracy'"https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c372
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 20:09:24 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c372Re: Re: Re: Hmm...https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c353
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 18:50:57 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c353I'm sorry for asking an obvious FUCKING QUESTION.

Do you really expect me to believe you're that stupid?

I mean, sheesh, the State Attorneys General are claiming to represent businesses who, by their own admission, say that it's the first time they've heard of it.

No they're not. They identified the company as a victim. Just like they'd identify Dick's Sporting Goods as a victim if they sued a seller of counterfeit NFL jerseys.

So, EXCUSE ME for asking an obvious question.

See reply to #1, above.

God, it's people like you that proves the American Education system is all fucked up. Instead of answering questions properly, you use scorn and ridicule, thus causing people, who want to ask questions for answers to not ask in the future, thus making it HARDER for those same people to freaking LEARN!

My, aren't you a thin-skinned, little pantywaist? I don't know why you think I am part of the American Education system. I'm not. Or perhaps it's just part of (another) poorly thought out rant of yours. In any event, it appears that your years in the special education system lead you to think can act like an imbecile and still be rewarded.

Do yourself a favor next time and SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

Do yourself a favor , go back to discussing the virtues of various fantasy games with the other losers.]]>Re:https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c348
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 17:24:11 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c348A good start...]]>https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c323
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:18:48 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c323something something shoot all the lawyers...]]>Re: Use Linuxhttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c320
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:45:40 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c320Using Linux based Operating Systems, such as Ubuntu, Red Hat, SuSE or LinuX Mint, with other Free Software such as LibreOffice, SugarCRM and MySQL, for example with or without support contracts is all they need do. Microsoft can't accuse them of using unauthorised software.

Not only will they save money, even with support contracts, but system reliability will improve.

When Microsoft's terrorist arm, the Business Software Alliance, went after the company with US Marshalls. They responded by declaring Microsoft software to be unauthorized within their business. Thus, they only used authorized (and properly-licensed) software, in addition to software that is not promoted with a protection racket; 'nice business you have here, it would be a shame for the wrong suggestion to trigger a US Marshall cavity search.']]>Re: Re: Re: Hmm...https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c221
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:52:43 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c221wants you to get angry, just have a chuckle at it's attempts to do so, and move on.]]>Re: Re: Hmm...https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c206
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:47:11 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c206sorry for asking an obvious FUCKING QUESTION.

I mean, sheesh, the State Attorneys General are claiming to represent businesses who, by their own admission, say that it's the first time they've heard of it.

So, EXCUSE ME for asking an obvious question.

God, it's people like you that proves the American Education system is all fucked up. Instead of answering questions properly, you use scorn and ridicule, thus causing people, who want to ask questions for answers to not ask in the future, thus making it HARDER for those same people to freaking LEARN!

Do yourself a favor next time and SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!]]>Re: Re: Use Linuxhttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c192
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:46:30 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c192pay for Linux. If you can show that every desktop or server has a RedHat or SuSe license, there is no way they can say it's "unauthorized software", or "since you have a computer and did not pay for an OS for it you must be using a pirated OS".

As a bonus, you are giving money to companies which do a lot of work enhancing Linux (for instance, RedHat is always near the top in the amount of changes to the Linux kernel). And their licensing is AFAIK quite simple and easy to understand.]]>Re: Use Linuxhttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c184
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:36:40 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c184this was not in the US btw. They use the BSA to "audit" software licenses and they used to count every PC without a windows license as an instance of piracy even if they ran on linux.

I haven't heard anything in recent years, but yes, they have gone there before.]]>Re: Use Linuxhttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c170
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:29:31 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c170A thousand times this. Microsoft licensing is a true nightmare -- such that even Microsoft can have a very hard time determining if you are properly licensed.

It's because of this alone that I don't recommend using Microsoft software in business environments.]]>Re: Hmm...https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c165
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:29:24 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c165Isn't this prejury or liable on the parts of the State Attorneys?

Do you mean libel? And no, it is not. But at least you know how to spell it. And no, it's not perjury either. Perjury is lying under oath.

I mean, I'm pretty sure that cases have been thrown out for less than simply, oh, you know, completely misrepresenting the clients you claim to represent?

I'm pretty sure you have no idea what you're babbling about. State Attorneys General do not have private clients. They represent the State. Be it the public or agencies.

God, you're a dolt.]]>Use Linuxhttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c152
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:26:57 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c152For instance: you might think that buying computers without any operating system and using a volume license is a valid way of putting Windows on a company's computers. To my surprise, I recently found out that's not the case: a volume license can only be used if the computer already has a Windows license, either OEM or retail. The WTF is: if you already have a Windows license for all your computers, what's the point of a volume license then? It makes no sense, you are just paying twice for the same software.]]>https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c145
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:19:47 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c145https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c124
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:18:27 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c124Re:https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c111
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:17:40 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c111They would determine it based on Microsoft's say-so.]]>https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c109
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:09:45 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c109So if I shop in a foreign owned retail store that uses unauthorized software in their stores overseas, I'm now the criminal for buying legal stuff from them?

And how exactly would one determine that they aren't breaking this law short of requiring a full audit of all their software every time they go to buy something?]]>Re: So..https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c89
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:09:16 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c89Well then I should sue you because I was making such spreadsheets well before the C64 even existed. But I'll give you a license for an amount somewhat lower than it would cost to defend yourself in court, so you're OK.]]>Re: Hmm...https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c68
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:55:11 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c68So..https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c57
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:51:48 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c57Because 1 of them had SOFTWARE??

OK..WHO here has made a spread sheet for home billing?I WANT TO SUE you, because I MADe the first one with Multiplan on my C64 YEARS ago..]]>https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c40
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:48:00 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c40https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c37
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:34:48 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c37There are enough reasons to do this, starting with the elephant in the room that microsoft is a risk for national security and industry espionage, because they cooperated with american intelligence agencies and likely still do.]]>Hmm...https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c19
Tue, 18 Mar 2014 07:29:08 PDThttps://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140317/13003426600/microsoft-enlisting-clueless-states-attorneys-general-to-shake-down-foreign-companies-piracy.shtml#c19I mean, I'm pretty sure that cases have been thrown out for less than simply, oh, you know, completely misrepresenting the clients you claim to represent?]]>